Child and Family Health Team

The Child and Family Health Team (CAFHT) is a specialist community health service is provided for families with children aged 2 to 12 years. The service aims to promote the health, development and wellbeing of children and help coordinate and link in with appropriate support.

We are a tertiary multidisciplinary team who see families with children who are experiencing difficulties in 2 or more development areas with or without complex behaviour problems and psychosocial stressors. Children and families seen at CAFHT need to have already seen a primary or a secondary service prior to referral.

Families living in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock, Dungog and Singleton are eligible to access all CAFHT services. We run some outreach clinics in Muswellbrook for those living in the Upper Hunter.

What services are provided?

The following clinical services are provided:

Medical assessment and management

Child Counselling and Family Therapy for complex behavioural problems in children over 5 years

Interventions for sexualised behaviour

Individual and group programs

Assessments, consultations and some groups programs are provided by Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology

Assessments for AD/HD, autism, learning and developmental disabilities and help with accessing supports

Advocacy and support to families who interact with schools, government agencies (e.g., Community Services) and other organisations (e.g., ASPECT, Life Without Barriers).

CAFHT provides the following clinics:

Multidisciplinary clinic: A one-stop shop where children who require assessments by all professions are assessed

Muswellbrook outreach clinic: Assessment by medical or psychology for residents living in the Upper Hunter

Aboriginal child health clinics (Awabakal and Karuah)

Sparks clinic (Sexualised Behaviours clinic) for children under 10 years

Staff consult and liaise with other community agencies, schools and preschools that may have ongoing involvement with a child and family. This includes Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) and the Department of Education and Communities (DEC).

Do I need a referral and how do I make an appointment?

Referrals are accepted from a wide range of health, welfare and education workers, rather than direct referrals from parents. Initial enquiries can be made by phone on 49246400. Referring agents need to complete the referral form which can be found on this website.

After receiving a referral an intake officer will assess a child and family’s needs. If the family are eligible for our service, the referral is taken to an allocation meeting where children will be placed on medical, speech pathology, occupational therapy, developmental psychology and/or psychosocial waitlists. Children needing an assessment in all areas may be allocated to multidisciplinary clinic.

Location and contact details

Child and Family Health Team
Harker Building
Longworth Avenue
Wallsend NSW 2287

Postal Address:
Locked Bag 1014
Wallsend NSW 2287

Phone: 4924 6190 / 4924 6400

Fax: 4924 6401

The staff at the Child and Family Health Team will make contact with families following a referral from a Health Professional.